Chapter 11: Love's Reprise

Aloha, it's The Draigg here again. Feeling up for some more romantic drama? Of course you are! I just want to say that RWBY is owned by Monty Oum, and that any media I mention belongs to their respective creators. Let's start this shindig!

After traumatizing Ren with Blake's fan fiction to get him to act better, the rest of Sunday went without incident. Nora had managed to build the bed prop by herself, only after wasting about two hundred nails. Ren spent the rest of that day huddled in the corner with a shock blanket, trying to drink some of Jaune's calming tea. He would have gotten a mouthful, if his hands weren't shaking so much. The bullets were taken out of his guns for everyone's safety.

Ruby and Weiss had successfully acted their way through a good amount of their scenes, with only one major one left to do. It was the scene where the two romantic leads professed their love with the help of a song and kissed. Naturally, both of them were rather nervous. It was a good thing Yang was unconscious, otherwise she would have taken steps to ensure tomorrow's practice would never happen.

"Okay, that's a wrap for today!", announced Velvet. While Team JNPR hauled Ren's uncooperative body out of the theater, Velvet pulled Ruby and Weiss aside. She wanted to talk to them about tomorrow.

"Okay, next practice is the big scene. I know you may feel a bit nervous, but I want you guys to give your all, okay? Okay.". Velvet patted the two on the shoulders. "I know you can do it. No pressure!". That being said, she walked away, leaving our two leads looking at each other anxiously.

"Er… You ready? F-for tomorrow, I mean.", stuttered Ruby nervously.

"Of c-course I am, you dolt!", exclaimed Weiss, trying to hide her anxiety.

There was a pregnant pause. Both didn't want to move.

"We should go.", Weiss said finally.

"Y-yeah.", Ruby agreed, playing with her fingers.

They left the theater, unsure what to make of tomorrow.

The sun that Remnant orbited around shone brightly on Monday. Like a certain pasta loving cartoon cat, nobody liked Mondays. It was a dreaded day for most. For the student's it was because they had homework due, and for the teachers, it was because they didn't want to deal with a bunch of grumpy, hormone filled teens with a penchant for destruction. It was bad enough that one student accidentally blew up the botanical gardens while trying to run to Dust Studies 180 on a Monday two months ago. The staff didn't want a repeat of that day.

Team RWBY wasn't handling Monday well. Blake was keeping Yang distracted throughout the day in order for her not to kill Weiss. She knew they couldn't go to practice today. Ruby had bit her nails down to the roots and started on her cuticles, anxious about today's practice. Weiss was having a hard time paying attention in her classes, trying not to think about how soft Ruby's lips might feel against hers. Overall, today wasn't a day any of them were looking forward to.

Velvet, on the other hand, was ecstatic. The musical group was blazing through preparations, and she felt that they could be ready for next Monday's premier. All they had to do is perfect the big kiss scene, and then they could cruise through the entire week. She held her head high as she walked into the theater, feeling proud for her friends.

"Okay everyone!", she announced as she settled in her director's chair. "If this practice goes well, we can call it quits early today!". She pulled her professional glasses out of her jacket pocket and put them on. "I think we can.", she said while grinning.

If Velvet was feeling like a million lien, then Ruby and Weiss felt like lint at the bottom of a wallet. She was way too nervous to think about anything resembling acting. "Remember what Weiss said. Just be yourself.", she kept on repeating in her mind. Thinking about Weiss made her feel a little better. She tried to steady her breathing. She could do this.

Weiss was massaging her throat, getting ready to sing. She was also feeling nervous, but for different reasons. "Ruby's really going to kiss me.", she thought. She had given Ruby the advice to be like herself on stage, so she hoped that it was her that gave a kiss, not Garnet Vine. If it was just her character, then Weiss would be crushed. Her feelings wouldn't be reciprocated. That kiss wouldn't mean anything.

"And… action!", shouted Velvet.

Weiss (as Grey) was sitting in a chair, looking depressed. Ruby (as Garnet) mimed opening a door and walked over to Weiss, her eyes full of concern.

"G-Grey? Are you alright? I'm… sorry if you weren't ready. I just… thought that you were that way and I… I just want to say sorry. If you don't want to see me again, I-I'm fine with t-that.", recited Ruby. She turned to leave, but was stopped by Weiss starting to sing.

"Did I drive you away?/I know what you'll say,

You say, "Oh, sing one we know"/But I promise you this,

I'll always look out for you,/That's what I'll do."

"I say oh"/I say oh."

Weiss stood up to face Ruby, her melancholy radiating off of her stage presence.

"My heart is yours,/It's you that I hold on to,

That's what I do,/And I know I was wrong,

But I won't let you down,/(Oh yeah, yeah, yes I will)"

Weiss felt that this song was easy to sing. It resonated with her, as if it spoke what her heart was thinking.

"I say oh,/I cry oh."

"And I saw sparks,/Yeah I saw sparks,

And I saw sparks,/Yeah I saw sparks,

Sing it out."

"La, la, la, la, oh/La, la, la, la, oh/La, la, la, la, oh"

Weiss finished the song, her face dropping from Ruby's gaze. Her real tears were threatening to cover the fake ones. Overwhelmed with emotion, Ruby pulled Weiss into a bear hug.

"You were afraid?", Ruby choked out.

"I never wanted to let you or anybody down. That's why I didn't want to get closer to you. I.. I don't want to hurt anyone.", said Weiss, finding truth in her lines.

Ruby let out a tear lined chuckle. "You could never hurt me. You're my little sunflower, remember?"

"I-I love you, Garnet.", Weiss admitted.

"I love you too, Grey.", said Ruby while smiling.

Now was the time for the payoff. They needed to kiss. Ruby dipped Weiss down in her grasp, and planted a long, soft kiss on Weiss' soft lips. Weiss unconsciously held Ruby tighter, her emotions flaring in her embrace. "I love you… Ruby.", Weiss repeated in her mind. Her kiss felt so right. She didn't need anything else anymore. Ruby was enough.

"And… cut!", called Velvet. "Wow! That was incredible! That was incredible acting from the two of you!".

Letting Weiss go, Ruby said, "Yeah, I'm proud of my acting talent. I could really feel what my character was doing.", while rubbing the back of her neck.

Weiss froze. Acting? Character? That wasn't Ruby kissing her! It was GARNET! She felt so betrayed. What happened to acting as yourself? That kiss didn't mean a thing if it wasn't Ruby! A low sob escaped her throat.

Everyone shifted their focus to Weiss. Why was she crying? What was wrong? Ruby tried to reach out to Weiss with her hand. "Weiss? Are you o–okay?", asked. Weiss slapped away her hand. Tears now freely falling from her face, she ran off stage and out the theater door. Everyone was confused and shocked. What was going on?

Concerned, Ruby ran after her shortly after Weiss left.

Weiss ran into Beacon's gardens. Finally feeling tired, she stopped at a bench near the remaining white rose bushes. She looked at the flowers with a feeling of profound sadness. They used to represent a chance at a real love. Now, all she could see in them was something that could never be.

With sobs wracking her chest, she lied down. It wasn't fair! Why did she have to feel this way? All she wanted was someone to hold her, and to tell her everything was good in the world. Mom and Dad never cared. Ruby was the only one who did. Maybe if she hated her like she did her parents, maybe this pain would go away.

It wasn't fair.

It isn't FAIR!

Ruby ran to the one place that Weiss liked in Beacon: the gardens. She liked to study there after class, saying that the flowers reminded her of the gardens back at her home. Looking around frantically, Ruby spotted Weiss lying down on one of the benches, staring at a rose bush. Relieved that she found her, she walked to the bench.

"Room for one more?", asked Ruby, trying to hide her concern. Weiss sat up at the sound of her voice. Tears were streaking her face.

"O-oh, w-w-what do Y-YOU want?", Weiss spat between sobs. It really hurt Ruby to see Weiss like this. She always guessed that she was hiding her emotions, but she never knew Weiss could break down like this.

"I want to know what's up. What's the matter?", she said, sitting next to Weiss. She tried to put her arm around her, but it was shrugged off. Now Ruby was really worried.

"You! IT's always been you! Every day, I've had to deal with you!", shouted Weiss.

"I-I'm sorry if I'm not smart enough or something…", Ruby tried apologizing.

"No! It's not that! Why do I have to deal with all these feelings about you?!", continued Weiss. Ruby looked shocked. Feelings? That's what this was about? She didn't know what to say. Weiss continued to rant:

"I love you! Ever since we became a team, I always loved you! Do you know how painful it is, to see the person you love but could never have?!". Her tears poured out even harder. "I hate this feeling! It hurts! Oh god, it hurts so much! Maybe if you hate me like my parents, I can hate you back! Then I won't be hurt anymore! Please!'.

Weiss grabbed Ruby by the shoulders. "HATE ME!".

Ruby blinked away tears. She… loved her? How could she stand to hate someone who loved her? It made no sense, damn it!

"HURT ME!", Weiss yelled as her body shook with sobs. Ruby couldn't bring herself to do anything. She was still too shocked at her confession. Tears started to fall down her cheeks at seeing Weiss like this.

"KILL ME!", Weiss finally pleaded. Letting Ruby go, she curled into a ball on the bench. She cried so much that it hurt to breathe. That was the breaking point. Ruby would never do anything like that.

She couldn't help but think of all the times Weiss was there with her. Studying, fighting, and just joking around. She had the most beautiful voice she had ever heard. When she heard her sing up on the stage, she couldn't help but feel warmth in her heart. She was like a rare, desirable gem, so delicate that it could be broken at the slightest touch. Weiss was now a constant source of beauty in her life, a fixture never to be removed. Maybe… she loved her too? Finally, wiping away her tears, Ruby thought of something to say to Weiss.

Hugging her crying body, Ruby whispered in to Weiss' ear: "No.". She held her in her arms until her crying wore down. She sat there, looking at the white rose bushes until Weiss' body stopped shaking.

"T-then p-pl-please don't leave m-me-e.", Weiss finally managed to choke out. Ruby wiped away some stray tears with the edge of her cloak.

"I would never dream of it.", she whispered to her. Weiss smiled a weak smile. She felt so very, very, tired. It was like living in a dream. Closing her eyes, she felt her energy leave her. So… tired… Weiss fell asleep, her secrets finally being revealed to the world.

Noticing that Weiss' breathing had fallen into a rhythm, Ruby wrapped her cloak around her. Yes, maybe she did love Weiss. She would never do anything to hurt her. It too painful to just watch her cry like that. That wasn't the Weiss she knew. The one she knew in her heart was smart, brave, and dependable. She had a voice that angels would be envious for, and had hair that shone like fresh snow. She always looked out for her whenever she needed help, and would do everything in her power to have her succeed.

Yeah, Ruby really DID love Weiss.

Picking Weiss up from the bench, Ruby made her way back to the dormitories. She didn't care what anyone else thought. It didn't matter what Yang might think, or what others might whisper behind her back. Weiss and Ruby were one, and they could never be brought apart. The heart is a strong item like that.

It has been said even since the ancient times, ever since man rose from dust, regardless of whatever kingdoms rose of fell, that love would always remain constant. Ruby and Weiss now fully understood what that meant. It didn't mean just being two separate people. It meant balance.

In some of the earliest found writings, the words 'love' and 'balance' were written with similar characters. It meant sharing each other, both balancing and filling each other out. Push and pull. Sun and Moon. Remnant and stars. But besides all of that, love simply IS.

And, most importantly, Ruby and Weiss feel it for each other.

What a romantic chapter. I should say that the song was 'Sparks', which is performed and owned by Coldplay. Remember, you can tell me what you think so far in the reviews. This is The Draigg, signing off for now!